BIOS

BREAKING

Trudeau under fire for saying some vets want more than government can afford

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes part in a town hall meeting in Edmonton on Thursday, February 1, 2018. The federal Conservatives are demanding Justin Trudeau apologize to veterans after the prime minister said some injured ex-soldiers are asking for more than the federal government can afford. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

The Canadian Press
Published Monday, February 5, 2018 4:41PM EST

OTTAWA -- The federal Conservatives are demanding Justin Trudeau apologize to veterans after the prime minister said some injured ex-soldiers are asking for more than the federal government can afford.

Trudeau made the comments last week during a townhall event in Edmonton where a wounded veteran accused the prime minister of breaking a key promise from the last election.

While Trudeau promised at the time that veterans would not have to fight the government in court, the Liberals have spent the last two-plus years opposing a landmark legal case involving a group of veterans who want the government to reinstate lifelong disability pensions.

Conservative leader Andrew Scheer questioned in the House of Commons why the Liberals are saying they don't have enough money for veterans when they have found the money for many other causes and initiatives.

Those include an out-of-court settlement with Omar Khadr, a new Chinese infrastructure bank, a loan to Bombardier and more than $200,000 for Trudeau's controversial trip to the Aga Khan's island in 2016.

But Veterans Affairs Minister Seamus O'Regan says the Liberals have done more to boost benefits and services for veterans during their short time in power than the Conservatives did during their decade in government.

The RCMP is assisting Ivory Coast authorities regarding the West African country's arrest of two men who are accused of posing as a woman online to blackmail former Conservative MP Tony Clement with sexually explicit photos that he sent them.